(written by Cait, of course)
Shamian Island has a long history of trade and war. After the second Opium War in the mid-19th century, Britain and France took control of the island, making the island its own, and shunning the local Chinese from it except for menial jobs and were kicked out each night.
Now, it’s a place of tourism, foreign consulates, and a smattering of hotels. Once you cross the bridge to the island, you feel transported to a different country. The architecture is European and the shop owners speak English. Chinese and foreigners stroll through the quiet streets and lush parks. The most well known Catholic church is on the island, as well as being a popular wedding photo shoot locale.
We only explored part of the island, but spent a lot of time enjoying the nice weather and surroundings of the boardwalk along the river. Take a look at some of our pictures.
